Mountain Greenery

Allison Cameron sat on the floor of her nearly empty apartment. This would be the last time here; from now on she would be living with House. She observed the remaining boxes, mostly books, stacked in the corner. One more time she walked from room to room to insure that everything was organized and ready for the move.

Steeling herself, she inhaled and walked into the back bedroom. It was colder here than in any other room in the flat. It wasn't really a bedroom, although theoretically it might have held a twin bed. Most people either used it for a den or as Cameron did, for storage.

There were approximately twenty long-boxes full of comic books here, that and a cedar hope chest. She ran her hand across the white, plastic boxes and thumped on the last one. Solid, a proper memorial. She sat cross-legged on the floor and raised the lid of the hope chest. The familiar smell wafted up and she smiled.

The chest was her first piece of furniture, given to her by her parents for Christmas the year she turned fifteen. She moved the small, green afghan her grandmother had knitted for her when she was an infant. She had loved the needle pointed flowers on the panels when she was a baby. She lifted out the white satin album and heaving a deep sigh, opened it.

The first picture was of her in her wedding dress. Simple white lace, a fitted bodice. It was a profile shot, as though taken of her unaware. She was glancing down at the orchid covered prayer-book that she had carried instead of a wedding bouquet. Her veil obscured her face, but there was no missing that look of love, hope and fear. It was hard to look at even after all of these years.

She turned the page and saw the two of them standing at the altar exchanging rings. Till death do us part. She saw the typical wedding party photo. She, sitting in a chair, with her bridesmaids standing around her. When was the last time she spoke to them? She had heard that Kelsey married Bruce, but she hadn't been invited. She had lost touch with so many people over the years.

She closed the album and moved onto the shoe box. She opened it and looked at the small, white, lace up Nikes. She smiled at the memory of how excited she was, how hopeful too. Her pregnancy was evidence that God really didn't want her to be alone, without love; and when that ended, it was another sort of proof.

She moved on to the papers. Her diplomas and certificates. On days when she felt stupid, she'd find refuge here; she was smart enough to be a doctor, smart enough to get a fellowship, smart enough to know when to move on. And so she had.

Once she had gone with a friend to a book shop. Barbara had wanted to buy a pack of tarot cards and she had heard that this shop had a great selection. Allison had wandered the store abstractly looking at the different oils, crystals, powders and incense. All the things typical of a new age shop. The woman behind the counter saw her looking at something in the display case and had approached her.

"Is there something you'd like to see?" She asked.

"No, I'm just waiting for my friend." She had waved in Barbara's direction.

The woman seemed to be looking over her shoulder, her attention drawn to something behind her, an expression so rapt that Allison was forced to look behind her. "What?" She asked, getting a very creepy feeling.

"You are surrounded by people." The woman had said simply.

"I don't understand." Allison had replied; she was feeling very alone in the world.

"You have many angels looking over you." The woman explained, "I've never seen so many with just one person."

Allison grew angry, but tried not to offend the woman, "I wouldn't know."

"Sometimes it feels that way. You'll see some day." She laid her hand on Allison's shoulder and gave her a small smile. Then she walked over to help Barbara pick out her cards.

Allison shook her head at the memory and moved on, deeper into the trunk. She found the velvet box that held her wedding ring. She choose not to open it, instead, she looked at her promise ring. It was time to look to the future.

She regarded all the things that were most precious to her. Everything was attached to someone who had died. "I miss you." She said simply. To her husband, her grandmother, her child. She had arranged everything just as it had been. Laying it all to rest. She closed the lid and stood.

Although it was late and she could have slept in her own bed, that's not where she wanted to be. She picked up the phone and dialed, "I know that I told you that I'd just stay over here tonight, but I've decided to come home instead."

"I'm still up," he answered, "I'll leave the light on for you."

xxxx

The next morning she met Wilson, Chase and Foreman with a dozen donuts and a U-Haul. "I don't have a lot of confidence here, there's something scary about a company whose slogan is Adventures in Moving. I don't want to have adventures when I move." She said.

It didn't take long for them to load the small truck up. The larger items of furniture were being left behind for the Super.

Chase and Foreman carried the cedar chest tenderly, sensing its importance. By noon they were all packed up. While the guys mapped out the route they were going to take over to House's place, Allison came back one last time to lock up and to leave the keys. She looked around. The impressions on the carpet where things had been. The things she was leaving behind. She tried to feel some way about what she was doing. Was she afraid? Excited? Resigned? It wasn't any of those things.

She got into her car and followed the caravan to her new home. When they arrived House was sitting at the piano with the door open. He played a sprightly tune, "On the first of May, it is moving day…" He sang as they came through the door with her desk.

Chase put it in the small alcove Allison had indicated and complained, "It's not the first of May, it's the bloody dead of summer."

"Artistic license." House admitted. "There's lemonade or beer."

Chase brightened, "Or both, we can made Shandies!" He strolled into the kitchen to get a refreshing beverage.

Foreman followed him, "Shandy? That sounds disgusting. Let me try."

Allison wheeled in a hand-truck full of boxes with Wilson following behind with an end table. "You know, there really isn't that much stuff, we probably didn't need to rent the truck." He said, setting the table down next to the sofa.

"When you've moved as much as I have you learn a few things. The thing I've learned is that it takes a whole lot less time to do it in one trip. The truck is cheap at twice the price." She turned around to get another load.

Soon it was all in and the U-haul was back at the gas station where it lived. House had gone out for a bucket of chicken and they sat in the dining room eating it off of paper plates.

"Thanks for all of your help," Allison said, peeling the skin off of her piece. "I can't believe that it's all done."

Foreman looked around, "You've got all of this to unpack."

"Books. It should go fast," she picked at the meat with her fingers, "seriously, this is everyone's least favorite way to spend Saturday."

Chase was about to agree and decided that it hadn't been so bad after all. "Think you'll have it all put together before Thursday night?"

"Who are you kidding? She'll have it all put together before the Simpsons come on." House carped.

"You'll learn to love my organization." Cameron said, standing to take her plate into the kitchen.

Nobody wanted to leave so they congregated in the living room. House had put on the ball game and the guys sat around drinking and argued with Chase about how baseball was superior to cricket.

Roman had wandered in, enticed by the chicken, and sat in the middle of the living room. House stood, "You want to see something funny?" He got the metronome from the piano and set it down on the floor next to the cat. He turned it on and watched as Roman went side-to-side pawing at it.

"Hey, be nice to him." Cameron protested.

"He's playing. He likes it." House said, sitting back down on the sofa.

She looked at Roman, not normally an energetic animal, as he played. "Okay, but don't let him get too dizzy."

As she predicted, Cameron was able to get the boxes unpacked. She slid into bed later that evening, exhausted and happy.

House sat up reading a magazine, "So, is it all arranged to your satisfaction?"

"Yes. Pictures are hung, towels folded and books shelved." She sank into the bed, relaxing for the first time in days. "Oh. That feels great."

"Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress?" He asked, turning the page.

"Smart ass." She reached over and squeezed him.